Neurofibromatosis – diagnostic challenges

Neurofibromatosis is a rare disease and in its classical presentation is not difficult to diagnose, but when the clinical finding is not typical it becomes a diagnostic problem.Aim: to present a clinical case of neurofibromatosis that was a diagnostic problem because of its atypical manifestation.Clinical case description: one-year follow-up and treatment of a patient with neurofibromatosis at the UMHB Pleven Eye Clinic. The patient was treated initially for keratitis according to the clinical presentation and patient’s complaints. During the second visit complaints of double images and exophthalmos were reported. CAT showed tumor formation in the orbit. Trifold biopsy was made due to inconsistency of the clinical picture with the finding. Steroid therapy was applied at the first visit showing good response, and of course clouded the diagnosis. Partial resection of tumor masses was made during the 2nd visit and 2nd biopsy.Results showed some response to anti-inflammatory therapy and yet unclear diagnosis. A larger biopsy contributed to the reduction of double images without significant reduction in exophthalmos. The diagnosis was made after the 3rd skin biopsy.Conclusion: a rare disease requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Further monitoring of the progression of orbital fibromas and/or subsequent orbital surgery and/or radiation or chemotherapy is required

От ковариаций до каузальности. Открытие структур зависимостей в данных

Проаналізовано сучасну методологію виводу каузальних моделей та структур систем імовірнісних залежностей із статистичних даних пасивних спостережень. Висвітлено можливості, проблеми, застереження та обмеження методів індуктивної ідентифікації каузальних відношень в апараті марковських властивостей та баєсових мереж. Виділено кілька ступенів каузальних моделей згідно з рівнем їх обґрунтованості та адекватності джерелу даних. Сформульовано статистичний паттерн, який зводить обґрунтування висновку про каузальний характер зв’язку двох змінних до тестування набору статистичних фактів (не)залежності.The current methodology of output casual models and structures of systems of probabilistic dependencies of statistical data of passive observation is analysed. The problems, features, traps and limitations of the methods of the inductive identification of casual relation in the unit of marcov properties and bayesias nets are highlighted. Several stages of casual models according to the level of their validity and adequacy of the data source are emphasized. The statistical pattern, which brings the justification of a finding about casual nature of the connections between two variables to the test of a set of statistical facts of (in)dependency is formulated.Проанализирована современная методология вывода каузальных моделей и структур систем вероятностных зависимостей из статистических данных пассивных наблюдений. Освещены возможности, проблемы, оговорки и ограничения методов индуктивной идентификации каузальных отношений в аппарате марковских свойств и байесовых сетей. Выделены несколько ступеней каузальных моделей согласно уровню их обоснованности и адекватности источнику данных. Сформулирован статистический паттерн, который сводит обоснование вывода о каузальном характере связи двух переменных к тестированию набора статистических фактов (не)зависимости

Fungi, Source of Biologically Active Substances with Important Application in Agricultural Fields

Eleven species (dried fruiting bodies) Fomitopsis pinicola, Cerrena unicolor, Piptoporus betulinus, Daedaleopsis tricolor, Stereum subtomentosum, Funalia trogii, Phellinus cinereus, Trametes versicolor, T. pubescens, T. gibbosa and Ganoderma applanatum were used to extract biologically active compounds (BACs) as crude fungal extracts (CFEs) in distilled water (diH2O) which was further studied to evaluate their impact on the rate of seeds germination, biosynthesis of photosynthetic pigments, biomass formation and in tomato seedlings length (Solanum lycopersicum, cv. Dubrava). The results showed that xylotrophic mushrooms are a source of potential biologically active compounds useful for agriculture. © 2022 Author(s).The work was partly supported by RFBR, Russia (Project No. 19-516-45006) and DST, India (INT/RUS/RFBR/363) and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Agreement No. 02.A03.21.0006)

Penetrating keratoplasty for the treatment of corneal perforations

Целта на настоящото проучване е да се анализират резултатите, получени след приложението на различни хирургични техники за лечение на роговични перфорации. Материал и методи: Проследени и документирани са болни с различна големина и локализация на роговична перфорация. Приложени са различни методи на лечение - биологично покритие, амнион, цианакрилатно лепило и кератопластика. Резултати: За периода от 2005 до 2012 г. в Очна клиника- Плевен са оперирани 25 пациенти с перфорация на роговицата. От тях с биологично покритие са 8 очи, с трансплантация на амнион 4 очи, с приложено цианакрилатно лепило 4 пациента, с пенетрираща кератопластика 9 случая. При всички пациенти с биологично покритие е възстановен интегритета на роговицата, с изключение на един случай, при който причината за перфорация е химично изгаряне. От пациентите с приложен амнион при 3-ма се възстанови интегритета на роговицата, a при 1 с размер на роговичния дефект Змм не се постигна цялостно затваряне на дефекта и се направи кератопластика. При пациентите с кератопластика в късния постоперативен период (до края на проследяването) 7 трансплантата са останали прозрачни, 1 полупрозрачен и 1 непрозрачен. При всички се постигна възстановяване целостта на роговицата и степенно подобрение в зрителната острота. Заключение: При малки перфорации за предпочитани методи на лечение са лепило или амнион, a за големи и неповлияващи се от използваните методи, средство на избор е пенетриращата кератопластика.The purpose of this study was to analyze the results obtained after administration of various surgical techniques for the treatment of corneal perforations. Material and methods: The study included patients with different size and location of corneal perforation. Various methods of treatment were done - corneal scleral patch, amniotic membrane transplantation, cyanoacrylate glue and keratoplasty. Results: 25 patients with corneal perforation, for the period 2007-2012, had surgical treatment at Eye clinic Pleven. The patients were divided into four groups according to the surgical procedure - corneo-scleral patch surgery was performed on 8 eyes, cyanoacrylate glue in 4 patients, amniotic membrane transplantation in 4 cornea was restored, except one case where the cause for perforation was chemical burn. In the group of patients with amniotic membrane transplantation in 3 cases corneal defect fully healed, while in one case failed to heal because the size of perforation was 3mm and keratoplasty was performed. Seven patients with keratoplasty had clear graft in late postoperative period, one had hemi transparent and in one case graft was rejected. In all cases the integrity of the cornea was restored and gradually improvement of visual acuity was achieved. Conclusion: In cases with small perforations preferred method of treatment are amniotic membrane transplantation and cyanoacrylate glue, and for large corneal defect the choice of treatment is keratoplasty

Fungi, source of biologically active substances with important application in agricultural fields

The work was partly support by RFBR, Russia (Project № 19-516-45006) and DST, India (INT/RUS/RFBR/363) and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Agreement № 02.A03.21.0006)

Impact of Fungal Biologically Active Substances on Plant Growth

In this study, effects of Inonotus obliquus, Fomes fomentarius, Fomitopsis pinicola and Trichaptum pergamenum extracts on plant functions have been investigated. Barley, cucumber and tomato seeds were grown in Petri dishes containing filter paper, petri dishes have been moistened with the solutions of biologically active substances from the fungal extracts from the above-mentioned fungi species; the control petri dishes were moistened with distilled water. The impact of extracts on seeds germination seedling growth, photosynthetic pigments contents, biomass formation of shoots and roots have been determined. © 2019 Author(s).The research was supported by The Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Agreement no. 02.A03.21.0006

Lifting QBF Resolution Calculi to DQBF

We examine the existing resolution systems for quantified Boolean formulas (QBF) and answer the question which of these calculi can be lifted to the more powerful Dependency QBFs (DQBF). An interesting picture emerges: While for QBF we have the strict chain of proof systems Q-Res < IR-calc < IRM-calc, the situation is quite different in DQBF. Q-Res and likewise universal resolution are too weak: they are not complete. IR-calc has the right strength: it is sound and complete. IRM-calc is too strong: it is not sound any more, and the same applies to long-distance resolution. Conceptually, we use the relation of DQBF to EPR and explain our new DQBF calculus based on IR-calc as a subsystem of first-order resolutio

Optimal Cutting Problem

One of the tasks of the Construction office of company STOBET Ltd is to create large sheets of paper containing a lot of objects describing a building construction as tables, charts, drawings, etc. For this reason it is necessary to arrange the small patterns in a given long sheet of paper with a minimum wastage. Another task of the company is to provide a way of cutting a stock material, e.g. given standard steel rods, into different number of smaller sized details in a way that minimizes the wasted material

Case report: Use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor as an immunomodulatory therapy in a patient with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and comorbid immunodeficiency

BackgroundAutoimmune diseases can coexist with immunodeficiency. We describe a treatment approach in which granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is used to restore immune competence without worsening autoimmunity. G-CSF is a polyfunctional cytokine that influences survival, proliferation, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells, and has immunomodulatory effects on the innate and adaptive immune systems.ObjectiveTo report a case of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) with comorbid immunodeficiency and frequent infections.MethodsCase report and review of literature.ResultsA 23 years-old man presented with a focal onset seizure with impaired awareness at age 12. At age 18, he developed headaches, recurrent multifocal seizures, and non-convulsive status epilepticus. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed extensive T2 hyperintense and gadolinium-enhancing periventricular and corpus callosum lesions. Serum aquaporin 4 antibody was positive 1:10,000 (normal value &lt;1.5 titer), hence he was diagnosed with NMOSD. As a complication, patient developed mucormycotic pneumonia with cavitation, requiring thoracotomy precluding use of immunosuppressants. Gene testing demonstrated a mutation in MT-ND4 gene encoding for NADH dehydrogenase 4 in mitochondrial complex 1. Eventually, he began a treatment with filgrastim, a G-CSF analog, in addition to intravenous immunoglobulins and prednisone. Patient’s NMOSD has been in remission without relapses, or coexistent infections ever since.ConclusionG-CSF is a polyfunctional cytokine with important immunomodulatory effects, which makes it an interesting therapeutic option when autoimmunity coexists with immunodeficiency and was used successfully in this case

Building Strategies into QBF Proofs

Strategy extraction is of great importance for quantified Boolean formulas (QBF), both in solving and proof complexity. So far in the QBF literature, strategy extraction has been algorithmically performed from proofs. Here we devise the first QBF system where (partial) strategies are built into the proof and are piecewise constructed by simple operations along with the derivation. This has several advantages: (1) lines of our calculus have a clear semantic meaning as they are accompanied by semantic objects; (2) partial strategies are represented succinctly (in contrast to some previous approaches); (3) our calculus has strategy extraction by design; and (4) the partial strategies allow new sound inference steps which are disallowed in previous central QBF calculi such as Q-Resolution and long-distance Q-Resolution. The last item (4) allows us to show an exponential separation between our new system and the previously studied reductionless long-distance resolution calculus. Our approach also naturally lifts to dependency QBFs (DQBF), where it yields the first sound and complete CDCL-style calculus for DQBF, thus opening future avenues into CDCL-based DQBF solving